Year after year they watched….they helped….they brought other women’s babies into the world.
They helped other women through their pain, watched as their pain turned into joy, and a new life was born.
They were midwives. It was their job---their role to fulfill.
Yet, you have to wonder if there weren’t days when they thought:
“When will it be my turn?”
“When will I have a family of my own?”
“When will I do more than observe this joy---when will I experience it?”
And then came the worst degree ever:
Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah: “When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.” (Exodus 1:15-16)
“Are. You. Kidding. Me????”
This wasn’t what they did.
Their job was to give life, to preserve it---how they were being commanded to take it????
How could he ask such a thing? This wasn’t just unthinkable---it was wrong! It was against God’s Law!
In that moment, two midwives---Shiphrah and Puah had to make a choice. Would they obey the king or would they obey God?
Would they do as they were told or would they rise up as Princess Warriors and obey God’s Law?
But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king’s orders. They allowed the boys to live, too. (Exodus 1:17)
Sometimes in life, you simply have to take a stand.
Often times God allows us to face situations where we have to choose to do the right thing even if we face potentially painful circumstances.
There are times when God allows evil to persecute His people. Ultimately, it’s part of His greater plan to fulfill a greater purpose---but in the moment it’s difficult to understand.
While we, in 21st century America understand that God was allowing an evil king to persecute His people so they would want to leave Egypt, the midwives didn’t have this knowledge. All they knew was that wrong was being called right and they would have to make a choice.
Just as God allowed these women to be put in this situation years ago, God is still allowing His daughters face situations today where we need to choose to do what’s right rather than go with the flow and do what’s wrong. It’s in these situations that we are called to follow the example of the midwives, be Princess Warriors, and choose to obey God rather than men.
Have no doubt, it will come at a sacrifice.
Some will lose friends when they stand up for what’s right.
Some will lose promotions.
Others may have to walk away from a lucrative job because the company is demanding that you do things that are simply wrong.
For some it means taking their children out of public school and choosing homeschooling, sacrificing time, money, and adding responsibility to an already full plate.
The truth is that I don’t know what it will cost you personally in your situation, but what I do know is that God will allow you and I to face situations where we need to choose: Follow God or follow the culture.
These are the moments where we need to put our fear aside, choose to be brave and do the right thing because we fear God.
It’s these times when we stand with the great saints of old and say, “We will obey God rather than man.”
It’s at these moments that we need to accept our call to be Princess Warriors and say, “No matter what, I will do what is right in God’s eyes.”
It’s what the midwives did---and God rewarded them.
“So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.”
(Exodus 1:20-21)
Personally, I love this Scripture.
It means a lot to me because there have been times in my life when God has called me to do brave things---hard things. Yet, it was in one of those moments as I was weighing the sacrifice involved in following God that the Holy Spirit brought me to this Scripture and reminded me that as we fear God and obey Him, He sees.
God rewards those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
The truth is that I don’t know the desires of your heart today. Nor do I know what God is calling you to do that may be put receiving those desires in jeopardy.
What I have learned throughout my own life is that often times God will call us to sacrifice our desires, our comfort, our security and take bold, brave stands for Him.
He calls us to seek first HIS KINGDOM and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Part of seeking His righteousness means choosing to do the right thing even when it isn’t easy, even when it requires sacrifice.
As we follow this brave road of a Princess Warrior we can trust that God sees our hearts, He knows our sacrifices, and as we diligently seek Him He will reward us.
Thoughts to Ponder:
Is there an area of your life where you need to stand for God’s righteousness?
Is the fear of the risk keeping you from taking a brave stand?
What if your stand would mean the difference between spiritual life or death for your child, your co-worker, your friend, or family member?
Are you willing to trust God with your desires while you seek His righteousness?
